Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01C—MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY
  • G01C9/00—Measuring inclination, e.g. by clinometers, by levels
  • G01C9/18—Measuring inclination, e.g. by clinometers, by levels by using liquids
  • G01C9/24—Measuring inclination, e.g. by clinometers, by levels by using liquids in closed containers partially filled with liquid so as to leave a gas bubble
  • G01C9/26—Details
  • G01C9/28—Mountings
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01C—MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY
  • G01C9/00—Measuring inclination, e.g. by clinometers, by levels
  • G01C9/18—Measuring inclination, e.g. by clinometers, by levels by using liquids
  • G01C9/24—Measuring inclination, e.g. by clinometers, by levels by using liquids in closed containers partially filled with liquid so as to leave a gas bubble
  • G01C9/34—Measuring inclination, e.g. by clinometers, by levels by using liquids in closed containers partially filled with liquid so as to leave a gas bubble of the tubular type, i.e. for indicating the level in one direction only

Definitions

• This invention relates to a spirit level and, more particularly, to a spirit level configured to determine the inclination of a surface, in substantially mutually perpendicular directions.
• EP1630522 describes a spirit level comprising an H-shaped frame formed of two mutually parallel arms connected by a perpendicular cross member.
• the lower surfaces of the arms and cross member are substantially flat and configured to be placed on the surface to be examine.
• the upper, opposing surfaces of the arm(s) and cross member are provided with respective bulbs, each comprising a glass tube that contains a liquid in which an air bubble floats, and mounted within a recess in the respective arm/ cross-member.
• the bulb on the arm(s) and cross member are mutually perpendicularly oriented, such that they determine whether the surface is level (or plumb) in two mutually perpendicular directions.
• a spirit level comprising a generally central elongate bar, and at least one pair of arm members pivotally coupled at a respective end of said bar for movement between a first, extended, generally H-shaped configuration in which said arm members extend from said end of side bar at an angle thereto, and a second folded configuration, in which a side-wall of each of said arm members is substantially parallel to and located against or adjacent to a side edge of said central bar, wherein at least one bulb containing a bubble is provided in or on said central bar and oriented substantially parallel to its longitudinal axis, and at least one bulb containing a bubble is provided in or on an arm member and oriented substantially parallel to it's longitudinal axis.
• one or more of said arm members may comprise a respective extension member, mounted for movement relative thereto between a first, retracted position and a second, extended position wherein it forms an extension to the length of said respective arm member.
• the above-mentioned extension member may be slidably mounted on a respective arm member such that longitudinal sliding movement relative thereto, between said first and second positions, is possible.
• the extension member may comprise an elongate longitudinal slot by which said extension member may be mounted on a protrusion provided on said respective arm member, wherein said sliding movement may be effected, in use, by sliding a side edge of said slot longitudinally over said protrusion.
• each arm member may be mounted at a respective end of said central bar by means of a hinge member.
• the hinge member may be substantially cuboidal with a semi-cylindrical portion, wherein said semi-cylindrical portion may comprise a hole through the depth of the hinge for the accommodation of a fastener.
• the arm members may be coupled to the respective end of said central bar such that they may lie substantially flush against said central bar when in said second configuration, and substantially perpendicular relative to the longitudinal axis of the central bar, when in said first configuration.
• the invention may comprise a releasable holding means for releasably holding said arm members in said second configuration.
• the releasable holding means may comprise a first magnetic portion provided on a side edge of said central bar and a second magnetic portion provided on an arm member, on said side edge located against or adjacent to said side edge of said central bar, when in said second configuration.
• Each arm member may comprise a distal end and a proximal end and may be pivotally coupled at its respective proximal end to an end of said central bar so it may be pivotal toward and away from a respective one of the opposing longitudinal side edges of said central bar.
• the invention may, in one exemplary embodiment, be such that the proximal ends of each of a pair of arm members are substantially flush with each other when in a first configuration.
• One exemplary embodiment may provide the proximal ends of one or both of a pair of arm members with a friction surface for enabling said proximal ends to engage with each other, in a friction fit, when said arm members are in said first configuration.
• the above-mentioned friction surface may further comprise a serrated surface.
• Figure 1 is an isometric schematic diagram showing a spirit level according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention in a first configuration, wherein the arms are substantially perpendicular to the central bar, and the extendable portions are retracted fully;
• Figure 2A is a schematic plan view of the spirit level of Figure 1, in the
• Figure 2B is a schematic side view of the spirit level of figure 1, in the
• Figure 2C is a schematic diagram end view of the spirit level of Figure 1, in the aforementioned configuration
• Figure 3 is an isometric schematic drawing of the spirit level of Figure 1 in a second configuration, wherein the arms are folded in so as to lie parallel to the central bar, and the extendable portions are retracted fully;
• Figure 4A is a schematic plan view of the spirit level of Figure 3, in the
• Figure 4B is a schematic side view of the spirit level of Figure 3, in the
• Figure 4C is a schematic end view of the spirit level of Figure 3, in the aforementioned configuration
• Figure 5 is an isometric schematic diagram of the spirit level of Figure in a third exemplary configuration, wherein the arms are substantially perpendicular to the central bar, and the extendable portions are extended to their maximum capacity;
• Figure 6A is a schematic plan view of the spirit level of Figure 5, in the
• Figure 6B is a schematic side-view of the spirit level of Figure 5, in the
• Figure 6C is a schematic end view of the spirit level of Figure 5, in the
• Figure 7 is a schematic diagram showing a close up of the top view of a pair of hinges located at either end of the central bar of a spirit level according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in any of the aforementioned configurations;
• Figure 8 is an isometric schematic diagram of a spirit level according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in a further, optional, configuration.
• the top and base are of an equal width which is less than the width of the sides, but the invention is in not necessarily intended to be limited to this particular shape.
• the elongate bulbs 2 may have on them, markings such that a user can determined if the surface on which the device is level (horizontal) or plumb (vertical) according to the location of a bubble therein relative to the markings.
• the central bar may house two such elongate bulbs 2 in recesses 3, one to be viewed from above and one to be viewed from the side.
• Each bulb 2 contains liquid and a bubble such that when viewed, a user can determine which way is down.
• the bulb 2 on the side of the central bar 1 may be able to give an indication of the vertical incline of the surface, while the bulb 2 on the top of the central bar 1 may give a reading of the horizontal flatness along the direction defined by the length of the bar.
• a respective pair of arm members 6 attached to the central bar 1 by means of hinges 5.
• Each hinge 5 may be positioned such that it extends out of the side of the arm 6 facing the central bar 1, such that when the arm members 6 are in a first configuration, the ends of each arm member are able to lie flush against each other and extend substantially perpendicular to the central bar 1 such that, in the first configuration illustrated, each pair of arm members 6 defined a single perpendicular arm across a respective end of the central bar 1 and, together, the central bar 1 and the two pairs of arm members 6 define a generally H-shaped structure.
• each arm member 6 is provided with an extension member 9 of generally U-shaped cross-section, which is slidably mounted over the lower edge of a respective arm member 6.
• Each extension member 9 includes a protrusion 8, which may be generally T-shaped, which is mounted within an elongate recess of slot 9A in the side wall of the extension member 9
• the protrusion 8, in this exemplary embodiment, is generally T-shaped, oriented with the narrow end attached to the arm 6, and constructed such that the 'bar' of the 'T' is wider than the width of the slot such that the extension member 9 may not slip off.
• extension member 9 In the aforementioned first configuration, the extension member 9 is fully retracted and its entire length rests against the arm member 6. However, in a second configuration (as shown in Figure 5 of the drawings) the extension member 9 can be slidably and longitudinally extended beyond the distal end of the respective arm member 6 (as the edges of the slot 9A slide over the protrusion 8) to effectively extend the length.
• the spirit level is illustrated in a second configuration, in which the arm members 6 have been folded in to meet the central bar 1.
• the extension members 9 have the effect of providing further stability to the device by increasing the "resting" surface area. Since in this configuration the invention is covering a larger area of the surface needing to be measured, it can provide a more general reading of the entire surface.
• the invention may comprise at least six elongate bulbs 2, the first of which may be located within a recess 3 on the top surface of the central bar 1 as described above and oriented such that the elongate bulb 2 lies parallel to the longitudinal axis of the central bar 1.
• a second elongate bulb 2 may be located substantially centrally along the length and width of the central bar and oriented such that it lies perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the central bar 1,
• the user may use the device to make a determination of the level (horizontal) or plumb (vertical) of the surface on which the device is resting in two directions, namely, vertically and laterally.
• the other four elongate bulbs 2 may be located in recesses 3 situated near the distal end of each arm member 6, i.e. the end furthest from the hinges 5. These elongate bulbs 2 may be oriented such that they lie parallel with the longitudinal axis of the respective arm member 6. In said first or third configuration, as shown in figures 1 and 5 respectively, these elongate bulbs are such that they are
• each arm member 6 (closest to the hinge 5).
• the serrated surfaces 10 at adjacent ends of the arm members 6 correspond such that when the spirit level is in a first or second configuration, they interlock, thereby providing a substantial amount of friction and ensuring that the two adjacent arm members 6 do not move relative to each other. This is advantageous in that it enables a more accurate determination of inclination of a surface to be made.
• the hinges themselves may be of a shape which provides support to the structure in certain configurations.
• FIG 7 there is shown a close up of the hinges 5 as viewed from above. They may comprise a cuboidal main body, with a semi-cylindrical portion made up from the alternating knuckles, which has a hole through the geometric centre of the semi-cylinder which may accommodate a screw, pin or other fastening piece. These semi-cylindrical portions are the pivot points of the hinges 5 and are oriented such that they face the end of the central bar 1.
• a stopper 11 made from a hard material, such as a rigid plastic, which follows the same shape of the cylindrical shaped portion of both adjacent hinges, and is flat in between. This acts as a barrier for the arm members 6, providing extra resistance such that the arms 6 may not fold out any further than the stopper 11 allows. This ensures the arm members 6 are substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to the central bar 1 at maximum extension.
• the arm member 6 has a width of substantially enough such that when the arms are in a second configuration (as shown is Figure 3), the arm lies flush against the central bar 1, and the hinge 5 lies flush against the end of the central bar. Distances marked with an 'x' are equal.
• the arm members 6 of the spirit level may be folded out at other angles to the central bar, e.g. 45 degrees, thereby defining further configurations to suit the needs of the user. They may also be folded out at different angles to each other, providing the user with many options and increasing the number of different situations in which it can be effectively and conveniently used.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
• Remote Sensing (AREA)
• Pivots And Pivotal Connections (AREA)
• Refuge Islands, Traffic Blockers, Or Guard Fence (AREA)

Priority Applications (5)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=55130133

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Families Citing this family (5)

Citations (8)

Family Cites Families (20)

• 2015
  • 2015-10-23 GB GB1518795.8A patent/GB2543569B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2016
  • 2016-09-22 ES ES16777741T patent/ES2849259T3/es active Active
  • 2016-09-22 PL PL16777741T patent/PL3365629T3/pl unknown
  • 2016-09-22 DK DK16777741.6T patent/DK3365629T3/da active
  • 2016-09-22 WO PCT/GB2016/052954 patent/WO2017068319A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2016-09-22 US US15/770,373 patent/US10809060B2/en active Active
  • 2016-09-22 EP EP16777741.6A patent/EP3365629B1/en active Active

Patent Citations (8)

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